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I am so sorry that it took so long!

My excuse is at the bottom!

Chapter 7—Finally Love

"Thanks for inviting me. It's been fun." Lily looked at him.

"I'm glad you came." He looked into her emerald eyes. "I really like you, Lily." He said before pressing his lips upon hers.

After they broke apart, Lily touched her lips as though she couldn't believe what had just happened.

"I-I'm sorry, Lily." James said nervously, after she didn't say anything. She didn't reply for a while and just as James turned to walk away, she grabbed his arm. He spun around to face her and gave her a questioning look, but then she kissed him again. He smiled in the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist, as she did with hers around his neck. Just as James deepened the kiss, there were cheers and cat calls. Sirius, Remus, Katie and Peter were standing by the back door.

"We were wondering where you two were!" Katie exclaimed, smiling.

"Yeah, well let's go inside, I'm freezing cold." Lily said, and everyone went back into the warm house. On the way back in, Lily grabbed Katie's arm and stopped her.

"Wait! I need to talk to you." She whispered. "We'll be inside in a minute." She called to everyone else.

"What is it, Lily?" Katie looked concerned.

"I don't know what to do." Lily confessed.

"Do about what?"

"James."

"What about James?"

"Katie! Did you not just see us kiss?"

"I did, but Lily…if you like him then tell him."

"I-I don't know."

"Well, tell me everything that happened."

"Okay, well we were outside and walking around and then James put his arms around me and kissed me and then pulled away, but I grabbed him and kissed him again!" Lily told her.

"Just see what happens, Lily, just see what happens." Katie gave Lily a quick hug and they stepped back inside to the party.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lily was sitting in the Gryffindor room with James, Remus and Peter. They were all finishing up their holiday work. Sirius and Katie were out, probably somewhere snogging.

"Lily, erm, there's a Hogsmeade trip next weekend. Would you like to go? I mean, not doubling with Sirius and Katie." James asked.

"Okay, that sounds nice." Lily smiled at him and he grinned. Lily swore she heard Remus chuckle, but he acted as if nothing happened.

"Oh, and Sirius wanted me to ask you to read his Potions essay." James smiled innocently as he handed her Sirius' parchment. Lily rolled her eyes but took it and began reading it.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

On the morning of their date, Lily woke up early. She took a long, steamy hot shower, and went back to her room, dressed in her towel, to decide what to wear. She searched through everything in the bureau and moved on to the closet. In the back, she found a short denim skirt, which she hadn't worn since she was fourteen. After seeing that it surprisingly still fit, she looked for a shirt. She decided on a tight, white see-through shirt that had a slightly low cut neck, but small buttons to button it up, and a white tank top with tiny green flowers under it. (a/n—I am awful at describing clothes!) She curled her hair into big, loose curls again, because it looked so pretty, and fell just below her shoulders.

Katie entered Lily's room when Lily was applying her make up.

"Lily! You look great and I didn't even help you! I'm so proud of you!" Katie joked and Lily laughed.

"C'mon, I had to learn something from you. You've been giving me tips since we were 10." Lily answered, and Katie replied with a smile. "Let's go to breakfast." Lily said, putting her lip gloss down.

"Good, I'm starving." Katie linked her arm with Lily's and they walked to the Great Hall.

"You look nice, Lily." Remus told her appreciatively.

"Thanks Remus." She smiled and sat down to fill her plate.

"Getting all pretty for Jamesy, Lilykins?" Sirius asked.

"Are you saying I'm not normally pretty?" Lily joked, but apparently Sirius didn't figure that out.

"What? No, no, you are!" Sirius defended himself, and Katie played along by glaring at him.

"So you're noticing other girls? Gosh, Sirius! You're so rude!" Katie accused.

"What is going on? Katie, you're my girlfriend, you know I love you! I'm just being nice, I-I'm just saying Lily's pretty. She's my friend. Hell, she loves James so why would I even have a chance? Not that I would want one or anything--." Sirius rambled.

"My gosh, Sirius, we're joking. You really talk a lot when you're nervous." Lily laughed.

"Shut up." He scowled.

"Anyways, where's James?" She asked.

"He said he'd go to the kitchens for breakfast, he wanted to sleep as late as he could, before your date." Peter told Lily.

"Speaking of your date, when are you supposed to meet him?" Remus asked.

"Noon. What time is it?"

"Eleven."

"I'll go back to the Gryffindor dorm with you guys until it's time. Katie, are you and Sirius going to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked.

"No, we're getting food at the kitchen and then playing Quidditch." Katie answered.

"Okay, have a good time." Lily told her friend.

"You too." Katie replied, smiling devilishly, which just made Lily laugh as they left the Great Hall. But she didn't notice a pair of eyes watching her.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The Gryffindor Dorm was warm and cozy, as a light snow fell outside. Lily sat close to Sirius, since he was also warm and Lily was only wearing a short skirt and t-shirt. He was one of her best friends, so it was fine with Katie, who snuggled up to Sirius's other side. A while later Lily left to get her jacket from her room. It was a pretty denim one, with a fuzzy lining to keep her warm. After slipping it on, she walked to the entrance hall to meet James. He was wearing jeans and a plain t-shirt with a collared jacket over it.

"Lily. You look great." He smiled, which she returned.

"Thank you."

They walked down the busy street of Hogsmeade, where every student was chatting happily. The snow was still falling, so many people were inside Three Broomsticks, but they decided to go there. James kindly opened the door for Lily and found a place to sit.

"Butterbeer, yeah?" He asked and went up to get the drinks after she nodded. He came back with two bottles of butterbeer, and some food.

"So, Lily, erm, you're house is beautiful." James said. Lily looked at him confused. "Sorry, I say random things when I'm nervous." Lily smiled.

"Why are you nervous?" She asked.

"You're actually going out with me."

"I did before."

"Because Katie persuaded you."

"Oh."

"Okay, so do you want to walk around?" James asked and she nodded.

"Sure."

They headed down the street towards Honeydukes. James reached over to Lily and brushed the snow out of her loose curls. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I love your hair, Lily. It's such a pretty color." He said. Lily laughed. James liked it, because it was a soft, lovely laugh.

"You're going soft, James." She replied.

"Am not!" He insisted. Lily just grinned and pushed open the door to Honeydukes.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

They sat on a bench near the end of the street. Not many people were down there, so it was nice. Lily looked at the snow and sighed out of pure happiness.

"Lily?" James spoke softly. She turned her head and looked into his dark eyes. "I know I've asked this countless times--." He took her hands in his. "—But will you be my girlfriend?"

She thought for a second. "I know you don't expect this, but yes." She smiled sweetly. "I will."

James grinned a huge grin and leaned forward to kiss her softly. He pulled her towards him by putting his arms around her waist. After they pulled her apart, Lily hugged him.

"Let's go back to the castle." James said standing up. He took her hand and kissed it as she stood up, and they walked back to the castle hand-in-hand.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

At the Quidditch pitch, James and Lily spotted Sirius and Katie walking back. Katie saw them holding hands, and forgetting about Sirius, took off sprinting towards them. She threw her arms roughly around Lily, laughing.

"I knew it! I knew it!" She yelled. Other students were starting at her. Lily laughed. Katie's face was flushed from flying in the cold, and her blonde hair was sprinkled with snow. Sirius finally caught up to them, and slapped James on the back.

"Finally, Prongs." He said. James smiled sarcastically and headed back to the castle.

Back in the Gryffindor common room, James and Lily were relaxing on the couch. James was leaning against the arm and the back of it, while Lily leaned against his chest. He put his arms protectively around her. A couple guys from 5th and 6th year, who knew Lily and James's history, smirked at James from across the room. Luckily, Lily did not notice this.

Remus was helping Peter with his Transfiguration homework, and Sirius and Katie were laughing about something together, before Sirius kissed her full on the lips. Lily spotted girls glaring at either her or Katie, since they had taken the hottest guys. Lily smiled and snuggled up closer to James, which he liked. James buried his face in Lily's strawberry scented hair and smiled to himself. After a peaceful moment, Sirius unlocked his lips from Katie's.

"I'm hungry." He announced. Lily laughed happily.

"You always are."

"Let's just go to dinner." He grumbled back, taking Katie's hand and dragging her out of the common room.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Lily, can I talk to you for a second?" Lily spun around to see Jason jogging up behind her. Lily was talking a walk around the frozen lake.

"Oh, erm, hi, Jason." She responded.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm doing alright, you?"

"Fine." There was an awkward silence between them. "Do you want to sit down somewhere?" He walked over to the castle, where there was a bench against the wall. He put a heating charm on it, to warm it up.

"So, erm, haven't talked to you in a while, have I?" Jason asked.

"Jason, why are you here?" Lily was curious.

"Okay well, I-I needed to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Are you going out with Potter?"

"Kind of. Well, yeah I suppose so. Why?"

"Erm, just because." He pushed his hair out of his eyes with his hand and looked away.

"Jason, what?"

"Lily, I think I like you." Lily shut her eyes and breathed deeply.

"Jason, I've got a boyfriend. I'm sorry." Lily said and ran back inside the castle.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

so there. I decided to write again….happy now? hope so. so I hope this was a good chapter…school has been keeping me so busy what with all the work and band (teacher hates me too hahaha) and decided whether or not to be guys basketball manager. (mm how fun would THAT be? hehe) so I hope that's a good enough excuse.

Much love,

HPFan670 (ah I hate that name but I'm afraid that if I change it, no one will recognize meee.

REVIEW AND I'LL UPDATE AGAIN!